New Westminster resident James Crosty recently met with Wyoming Governor Matt Mead to chat about coal.
Crosty, past president of the Quayside Community Board, met with Mead and Wyoming's policy director Shawn Reese in Vancouver last month to discuss the issue of coal and its potential impact on New Westminster.
Crosty is opposed to the plan that would see coal from Wyoming transported to Fraser Surrey Docks by rail and then barged to Texada Island, from where it would be shipped to Asia.
Crosty was pleased to be given time with a politician who he believes is able to effect real change at the source of coal loading and rail transportation.
"I was the only person to take the initiative to call the governor's office for a one-on-one meeting," he said in a press release. "If we are to stop the coal component of the Fraser Surrey Docks expansion plan, one would think engaging the governor would have been on the agenda of the politicos involved."
Crosty is no stranger to politics, having run for mayor in the 2011 municipal election and as an independent candidate in the recent provincial election.
During his meeting with the governor at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver, Crosty explained that New Westminster is in close proximity to the proposed coal terminal and informed him that a petition signed by more than 1,000 people opposed to the terminal had been submitted to Port Metro Vancouver.
Mead visited coal facilities as part of a trade mission to British Columbia and Alberta in June, where he sought to develop new and expanded market opportunities for Wyoming.
A press release from Mead's office stated that he toured the Westshore terminal, met with officials from Port Metro Vancouver about the process for expanding exports, and met with citizens concerned about issues related to expanded efforts.
"I explained that it is not appropriate for me to weigh in on local planning matters," he said in his press release.
"However, I reiterated the need for railroads and coal companies to address concerns of citizens by providing data, and to the extent there is no information or baseline data, then industry should be prepared to collect it."
Seniors' talent show on soon Seniors are being invited to strut their stuff - and potentially earn accolades and cash.
The New Westminster Lions Club and the Sapperton Old Age Pensioners are holding auditions for Seniors Have Talent! on Sunday, Sept. 15. They're looking for singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, storytellers, magicians and other entertainers aged 55 and up.
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